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0 pointsanalog3110y ago0 comments

In my view, the idea of market forces taking care of things depends on assumptions about public access to information, that probably can't be met. It may be prohibitively hard for consumers to get information on a reasonable expected life span of something like a refrigerator.

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4 comments · 2 top-level

sokoloff10y ago· 2 in thread

My strong belief is that all of them are "more than 10 years". Beyond that, does it really matter? That's a couple dimes to a dollar a day for convenient and safe food preservation in your house.

What would be the basis for predicting the life span of a new design anyway?

analog31OP10y ago

My anecdotal experience is that fridges last a few years before requiring repair. In the space of 10 years, my home fridge failed once, ran for a few more years, and then just stopped cooling. Over that time period, I've repaired nearly every appliance in the house. They were all new when we moved in, because we bought a house that was empty of appliances.

Dehumidifier: Defective potentiometer. Repaired, then it ultimately wore out and stopped cooling. Folklore is that the seals in the compressors are short lived, system loses the ability to compress the refrigerant sufficiently. This also causes a gradually rising power consumption until it can no longer hold temperature.

Chest freezer: Starting relay / capacitor failed. Replaced with unit bought online. Currently idle, as we have nothing to freeze.

Microwave: Failed, tried to repair, to no avail.

Cooking range: Loose connection in heating element caused wiring to burn up. Repaired by silver-brazing new wire to Nichrome element material.

Dryer: Repaired twice. First time was an over-temperature sensor. Second time, the motor bearings failed, and the unit was squeaking like crazy.

Waffle iron: Repaired once due to heating of loose connection, second time it was unrepairable.

I've also repaired the furnace, but it was a pretty old unit.

One basis for predicting life span of new design is to base it on known performance of old design. Of course this can't happen if cost reduction results in multiple, radical design changes, including use of lower cost materials.

On the plus side, the Internet has opened up a bonanza of repair information and spare parts, so I have saved a boat load of money by being self sufficient for repairs.

sokoloff10y ago

I agree on the "Youtube repair manual" aspect and I've saved a ton of money as well. We've been in our place for 8 years, and in that time, I can only recall fixing the fridge (bad defrost element-$20 or so), throwing out a slow cooker, replacing the igniter on the gas stove, and replacing a working dishwasher and a not working washer (bad bearing seal on a front loader and the bearing was too seized to remove before I damaged it irreparably).

That's in a place with two kitchens, plus a chest freezer, two washer/dryers, and numerous small appliances, plus most of the items were old when we bought the place. I'm sure I'm averaging less than a repair per major appliance per decade.

I don't doubt your contrary experience, but it seems to skew on the unlucky side IME.

Adams47210y ago

Agreed on access to information. In a competitive market, such as cars, most people know that Toyotas generally last longer than Jeeps.

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